The cost of doing this work

Is it the system or the law of diminishing returns?

Doing the work is a reader-supported newsletter for anyone who is serious about doing the work of anti-racism. It's a space for learning, accountability, and honest and open reflections on anti-racism, anti-oppression and what it means for brands and communications.
It’s brought to you by Collette Philip, a multi-award-winning founder, writer, coach and facilitator.

I had a very different post planned for this week. I had intended to write about the joy of celebration, based on the fact that my business, Brand by Me had a 10 year business birthday party last Friday. And yes it was joyful. You can see a tiny bit of the joy in the room here.

I also wanted to write about the power of “professional love” - a quote one of my clients, a charity CEO, once said to me, to describe the power of showing up with love and generosity at work, above and beyond what’s expected.

Last Friday, so many of our clients came up to me and talked about the impact of Brand by Me’s work on their lives and that is because of the care and love that we show continuously. I talked about this a video we showed on the night:

Watch the video here

As one of my repeat clients (who couldn’t be there on Friday) emailed me:

“It’s a fact that working with you was such a super impressive experience. I just remember those brand development journeys being so thorough, practical and organisation-changing times. Inspiring.”

I know our work has an enduring impact. I felt every ounce of the joy, support and love in the room. And I felt (and still feel) immense pride at what we’ve achieved at Brand by Me over the last 10 years - and it has been important to recognise and celebrate that.

---

However I woke up on Monday morning feeling quite different. And it was only after reading Nova Reid ’s latest substack, that I am able to express how I feel right now.

Why do so many philanthropists fund the far-right?

I recommend you read the post in full and subscribe to Nova’s newsletter.
As Nova starts her Substack:

“It’s been a strange couple of years in business if you are Black and especially if your work centres culture and social justice.“

Strange doesn’t begin to capture it. Nova talks about the highs and lows of the last couple of years as a Black woman in business - of boom to bust, of disappearing funding, of our work being underpaid and undervalued at every turn. She talks about the impact of systemic racism on the lack of funding for Black women - whilst philanthropy is increasingly financing the far right.

And I have experienced this too. All of it.

Weirdly this outtake from a photo shoot in 2022, sort of captures how I feel now. Gritted teeth, clenched hands, trying to smile my way through it.

Here’s the thing - as a business founder, I’ve implemented the 80/20 rule. I’ve pivoted and piloted continually. I’ve used AI tools to make us more efficient - without removing the quality and bespoke nature of our work. Yet over the last couple of years, we’ve seen the law of diminishing returns play out in practice.

Our work hasn’t diminished in quality or impact. But compared to the energy that
I put in, the returns from the business and from my wider work become less and less.

A hostile political environment for our work of anti-racism and equity, economic instability and a world in crisis make it really hard to run and sustain a small business.

The irony of this is that they also mean that our work is needed more now than ever before.

Yet I’m still asking myself - is it time to stop?

Or is there a way that I can build a community of like-minded individuals who are willing to invest in this work? A community of people that will come together for collective learning event when their company budgets won’t stretch to in-depth consultancy?

Does this community even exist?

Well, you tell me. Because that’s why we created our masterclasses. And that’s why I write this Substack.

But I can’t do this work for free. Nor should I. To do so would only replicate the harmful power dynamics of a racist and patriarchal system that expects, even demands my labour to cost nothing.

I recognise that speaking so openly may cause a few people to unsubscribe. So be it.

Because so far 16 of you believe that this community is worth investing in. And that allows me to believe that my vision for this community is possible.

Is it possible? Again you tell me.

There are two ways to be part of what comes next.

You can upgrade to a paid subscription to Doing the Work and support the thinking, writing and community I’m building here.

Or you can join the DISMANTLE masterclass series, where we take these questions out of reflection and into practice — working through what it actually takes to do this work inside organisations.

Both are forms of investment. In the work, in the community, and in what comes next.

I’ll leave it with you.

Thank you for being here.

Paid subscribers can access our full archive.

Check out these past posts: